Sailing Close To The Wind

There's a literal and a figurative meaning.  Sailing vessels can't sail directly into the wind.  A modern sailboat can get within about 45 degrees of the wind (a little less for a high performance boat).  A square **** ship could barely sail into the wind at all, maybe no closer than 70-80 degrees.

If you're sailing and you turn closer to the wind than you can sail, the sails start flapping (called luffing), you slow down, stop, and eventually start drifting backwards.

So the literal meaning is to sail as close as you can to the wind.  Search for sailing closehauled and you'll see more explanations and diagrams.

Figuratively, it means staying very close to a dangerous situation.  It might involve doing something in a legal grey area, or doing something that annoys your boss.   The idea is if you slip up just a little you'll find yourself in a bad situation.


Stolen from t'internet.

Bloody internet eh, it's ruined quizzes, innit.

I actually like sailing close to the wind and enjoy the challenge of just keeping on the right side of it and getting the feel of a sail stretched and full of wind and the burst of acceleration as you inch the wheel around the danger zone .....